Balcom High School

Balcom School Building & Students 1920

Submitted by John Davis

Balcom High School Girls Basketball 1923-24

HELEN PIOTT (KIMBER) ATTENDED A 2-YEAR HIGH SCHOOL IN THE HAMLET OF BALCOM AND PLAYED ON A WINNING BASKETBALL TEAM IN 1923-24. SHE IS THE THIRD GIRL FROM THE LEFT. MARY BOYD, WHOSE DIPLOMA IS PICTURED BELOW, IS STANDING ALL THE WAY TO THE LEFT NEXT TO THE COACH. KIMBER COLLECTIONS, MORRIS LIBRARY, SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY, CARBONDALE. (SUBMITTED BY JACKI RADEWAN)

The History of Balcom High School

Balcom (population 50?) is located in southwestern Illinois in the southeastern portion of Union County. Balcom is located about 22 miles south of Carbondale. The village sits on County Highway 6 at the intersection of Balcom Road. The Illinois Central Railroad line runs past Balcom about 1/4th mile to the east.

A brief history of the town of Balcom is available at http://www.shawneeheartland.com/towns.html . In summary, Balcom is named after “a high official (S.F. Balcom) of the Illinois Central Railroad.” A post office was established in Balcom in 1888. It quickly became known as a fruit shipping center of the area. Balcom reached its peak as a community between 1900 and 1930. As transportation efforts improved, the importance of Balcom to the fruit industry began to diminish. Balcom soon became the quiet, small community it is today.

The history of of Balcom High School is needed. We believe that Balcom supported a school system for its children from the late 1800s through the mid 1900s. It is probable that Balcom High School was a two-year high school that existed from the early 1920s through the late 1940s. We know that Balcom High School existed at least through the 1934-35 school year due to basketball scores listed on the web address of http://sites.google.com/site/xtmi2000/il1935dist-1 .

We are not certain if Balcom Grade School continued on after the high school closed. It is likely the kids of Balcom today attend school in nearby Anna-Jonesboro School District.

PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL PLAYER

Lester Howard “Red” Corzine was born in Balcom in 1909. He later attended Anna High School and eventually graduated from Monmouth (IL) High School. Red played five seasons in the NFL from 1933 – 1938.

Balcom High School Quick Facts

Year opened:                 1920s?

Year closed:                  1940s?

Consolidated to:             Anna-Jonesboro High School (?)

Balcom HS nickname:    unavailable

Balcom HS colors:         unavailable

School Fight Song:        unavailable

ATHLETICS The boys of Balcom High School definitely competed in the sport of basketball. The web address of http://sites.google.com/site/xtmi2000/il1935dist-1 shows that Balcom High School played Mound City High School in the first round of the Anna District Tournament. Balcom would lose decisively as Mound City would go on to win the District Tourney that year. It is probable that other sports such as track and baseball were offered at Balcom High School as well. We are in need of season records, coaches names, team nickname, uniform colors, and school fight song.   ————————————————————————— BOYS BASKETBALL Some scores involving Balcom High School boys playing in the IHSA State Tournament were located on a website titled “Illinois Postseason High School Basketball Scores.” These scores are posted below. 1932-33           Anna District Tournament              Coach’s name & record needed. 1st Rd lost to McGuire 32-19 Cairo beat Ullin in title game.   —–   1933-34           Cairo District Tournament              Coach’s name & record needed. 1st Rd lost to Cypress 54-29 Mounds beat Cairo in title game.   —–   1934-35           Anna District Tournament              Coach’s name & record needed. 1st Rd lost to Mound City 45-11 Mound City beat Cobden in title game.   —–   1935-36           Dongola District Tournament         Coach’s name & record needed. **1st Rd lost to Mounds 40-19 Buncombe beat Mounds in title game.  **Final varsity boys basketball game listed on this site.    ————————————————————————— Extra-Curricular Activities Sports were probably not the only activity at BHS.  It is possible that school plays, clubs, dances, and many other activities were a part of the well-rounded experience at Balcom High School.   ————————————————————————– Need Your Assistance If you have any further information regarding the many successes attained at Balcom High School, please write to us via e-mail at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net.